Transgender issues in the workplace
Matthew Jenkin
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 9 August 2012 06.15 EDThttp://careers.guardian.co.uk/transgender-issues-in-the-workplace
Photograph: Sarah Lee for the GuardianStonewall Scotland's director says that while employers are making "great strides" in terms of lesbian, gay and bisexual equality, they are lagging behind providing for transgender staff.
For transgender people, making the difficult decision to transition from being publicly a man or woman to the gender one really identifies with can be a traumatic experience.
But while employers can help by showing understanding and support, some companies' response to the issue, though well-meaning, can lead to discrimination and humiliation.
McFarlane explained: "There's a lack of understanding about what the real issues are. Some employers lump trans issues in with sexuality. What we find in the work that we do, is employers still have that lack of understanding."
According to Fae, the biggest issue in many offices is use of the toilet. Employers who ban their transitioning staff from using the female toilet may face legal action. "People try and fix this problem in ways that people often don't realise are offensive," she says. "Such as saying if you're trans you can use the disabled facility.
"It just marks people out as different and if there are any employees who don't like people transitioning, it almost endorses that."
It seems that many employers are simply guilty of over egging the pudding.
